Do you shoot in ISO mode or Gain? at DVinfo.net

David Banner · April 9th, 2015, 11:54 AM

I read a review where a user claimed a significant difference when he switched to ISO mode instead of gain. So I've been using ISO for a while but my mind naturally thinks in db of gain when shooting video.
What do you guys think and do?

Chris Harding · April 9th, 2015, 07:17 PM

Hi David

According to the manual it's purely a display option preference .. I have used both and don't see any difference so I tend to stay with gain as I'm used to it. However if ISO gives me better results I will use it in a heartbeat!! Interesting to know if there is a difference but I doubt it!

If anyone knows any reason why using an ISO display is better then let us know .. we are all ears!!

Chris

Steven Digges · April 9th, 2015, 10:51 PM

There is absolutely NO difference.....They are both a scale of how much electronic "gain" is being delivered through processing. When you go from the lowest to the highest setting. The difference between the two in video is the scale. Think Fahrenheit and Celsius. They both measure the same thing, but Celsius does it better. I am a "gain" guy myself because the smaller increments ISO offers is not important to me. You spin the wheel and the processor adds noise no matter what you call it. ISO MIGHT add it in smaller increments, I don't know if that is true or not. I would like to know but I am not the guy that claims I do.

Steve

Chris Harding · April 10th, 2015, 01:03 AM

ISO adjusts in 1/3EV increments and gain in 3db increments but remember that base gain is always 0db but base ISO varies between 160ISO and 200ISO depending on the profile you are using ...ITU709 has a base ISO of 200 whilst the movie profiles have 160 ... that's why PP3 often looks "brighter"

They both do the same job and it's purely a preference ( maybe for photogs moving to video) so use whatever you want to ...I have a long video background and all my older cameras had gain in db so I stuck with it. It's just easier and more convenient ..especially if you change profiles!

April 9th, 2015, 11:54 AM	#1
David Banner Major Player Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Bentonville, AR Posts: 239	Do you shoot in ISO mode or Gain? I read a review where a user claimed a significant difference when he switched to ISO mode instead of gain. So I've been using ISO for a while but my mind naturally thinks in db of gain when shooting video. What do you guys think and do?

April 9th, 2015, 07:17 PM	#2
Chris Harding Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 8,441	Re: Do you shoot in ISO mode or Gain? Hi David According to the manual it's purely a display option preference .. I have used both and don't see any difference so I tend to stay with gain as I'm used to it. However if ISO gives me better results I will use it in a heartbeat!! Interesting to know if there is a difference but I doubt it! If anyone knows any reason why using an ISO display is better then let us know .. we are all ears!! Chris

April 9th, 2015, 10:51 PM	#3
Steven Digges Trustee Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 1,828	Re: Do you shoot in ISO mode or Gain? There is absolutely NO difference.....They are both a scale of how much electronic "gain" is being delivered through processing. When you go from the lowest to the highest setting. The difference between the two in video is the scale. Think Fahrenheit and Celsius. They both measure the same thing, but Celsius does it better. I am a "gain" guy myself because the smaller increments ISO offers is not important to me. You spin the wheel and the processor adds noise no matter what you call it. ISO MIGHT add it in smaller increments, I don't know if that is true or not. I would like to know but I am not the guy that claims I do. Steve __________________ www.CorporateShow.com Been at this so long I'm rounding my years of experience down...not up!

April 10th, 2015, 01:03 AM	#4
Chris Harding Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 8,441	Re: Do you shoot in ISO mode or Gain? ISO adjusts in 1/3EV increments and gain in 3db increments but remember that base gain is always 0db but base ISO varies between 160ISO and 200ISO depending on the profile you are using ...ITU709 has a base ISO of 200 whilst the movie profiles have 160 ... that's why PP3 often looks "brighter" They both do the same job and it's purely a preference ( maybe for photogs moving to video) so use whatever you want to ...I have a long video background and all my older cameras had gain in db so I stuck with it. It's just easier and more convenient ..especially if you change profiles!